thompson



(No Model.)

W. G. THOMPSON. GRAPPLING BUCKET.

No. 321,158. Patented June 30, 1885.

IN'VEN TOR ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Phulu'lflhoguphar. Walhillgilmv D4 C4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM G. THOMPSON, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND EMMA L. HAYWARD, OF PORT RICHMOND, NEV YORK.

GRAPPLlNG-BUCKET. I

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 321,158,:lated June 30, 1885. Application filed March 3, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. THOMPSON, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grappling-Buckets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in

IO which similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a grappling-buckct"to which my improvement has been applied, the bucket being shown 1 open. Fig. 2 is the same section as Fig. l, but showing the bucket closed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same, the bucket-arms and connecting-bars being removed.

The object of this invention is to provide grappling-buckets constructed in such a manner that they can be operated by means of a single chain or rope, making them less eX- pensive in manufacture while being more conveniently controlled.

The invention relates to a grappling-bucket constructed with a foot-block carrying the bucket-arms, a head-block carrying the con- 3o necting-bars and provided with pulleys, a

hoisting-rope passing around the said pulleys and around pulleys pivoted to a block placed between the head-block and the foot-block,

and sliding upon telescopic guides connected 5 at their upper ends by a cross-head, and arranged to disengage a hook pivoted to the foot-block and engaging with a pin attached to the sliding center block, whereby the said bucket can be controlled by a single rope or 0 chain, and will be opened and closed automatically. The foot-block is made with an annular flange around its top to prevent material from getting upon the said top and obstructing the downward movement of the cen- 5 ter block, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

A represents the bucket-arms, which are hinged at their bases to the foot-block B. To

the angles of the bucket-arms A are pivoted the .lower ends of the connecting-bars O, the upper ends of which are hinged to the headblock D. To the foot-block B are attached the lower ends of two tubes, E, within which slide two tubes or rods, F, the upper ends of which are attached to a cross-head, G. Through an 5 5 aperture in the center of the cross-head G passes the hoisting chain or rope H, which passes through the head-block D and around a pulley, I, pivoted in a recess in the center block, J, at one side of the center of its upper part. The center block, J, is interposed between the head-block D and the foot-block B, and slides up and down uponthe telescopic guide-tubes E F. From the pulley I the rope or chain H passes up and around a pulley, K, pivoted in a recess in one end of the head block D, then down and around a pulley, L, pivoted in the lower part of one end of the center block, J, then across the lower part of the said center block and around '70 a pulley, M, pivoted in a recess in the other end of the said lower part. From the pulley M the rope or chain passes up and around a pulley, N, pivoted in a recess in the other end of the head-block D, then down, and its end is attached to the center block,'J, by a pin, 0, or other suitable means. In a recess in the lower part of the center block, J, is secured a pin, P, which,when the said center block is lowered into contact with the foot-block B, engages with a catch-hook, Q. The catchhook Q is made angular, and is pivoted at its angle in a recess in the foot-block B, with the end of its shank beneath the open lower end of one of the guide-tubes, E. The shank of the hook Q is held up, holding the said hook forward in position to engage with and-hold the pin P when the center block, J, is lowered by a spring, B, attached to the said foot-block B, and pressing againstthe lower side of the 0 said shank. The foot-block B is made with an annular flange, S, around its top, forming a space to receive the lower part of the center block, J ,which is rabbeted to fit into the said space. The flange S is madesufficiently high 9 5 to prevent the material being grappled from getting upon the top of the said foot-block B and preventing the center block, J, when lowered, from coming sufficiently close to the said foot-block for the spring catch-hook Q to engage with the pin P.

In using my improved grappling -bucket the said bucket is lowered by paying out the rope or chain I-I until the bottom of the footblock B or the end of the bucket-arm Astrikes the material to be grappled and is stopped. As the chain or rope H continues to be paid out, the center block, J, slides down the guide-tubes F E until it rests upon the foot block B and the hook Q, engages with the pin P. WVhen the rope or chain H is drawn upward, the passage of the said rope or chain H around the pulleys I K L M N draws the center block, J, and the foot-block B attached thereto into contact with the head-block D, which closes the bucket, the arms A and the bucket-sections being forced into and through the material to be raised, bringing the various parts into the position shown in Fig. 2. The bucket-sections are not shown in the drawings. As the chain or rope continues to be drawn in, the loaded bucket is raised and swung over the scow or other receiver. \Vhen the rise of the loaded bucket brings the cross head G into contact with the derrick-arm, the crosshead G and theinterior tubes or rods, F, are forced downward, bringing the lower end of one of the said tubes or rods F into contact with the shank of the hook Q and disengaging the said hook from the pin P, which allows the foot-block B to descend and swing the bucketarms A outward, opening the bucket and discharging its contents, the opening of the bucket being assisted by the weight of its load.

If desired, a rubber packing, T, can be placed upon the upper side of the bottom block,B, for the block J to strike against, to prevent the blocks J B from being injuriously jarred when the block J comes to its seat.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a grapplingbucket, the combination,

with the foot-block B, carrying the bucketarms A, the headblock D,'carrying the 0011- necting-bars U and the pulleys K N, and the hoisting rope or chain H, of the center block, J, having pulleys I L M, the pin and catchhook P Q, the telescopic guides E F, and the cross head G, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said bucket can be controlled by a singlerope or chain and will be opened and closed automatically, as set forth.

2. A grappling'bucket,constructed substantially as herein shown and described, with a separate sliding block, J, interposed between the foot-block B and the head-block D, and with a rope reeved around pulleys in said sliding intermediate and head blocks, where by the said bucket is adapted to be controlled by a single rope or chain, as set forth.

3. In a grapplingbucket, the combination, with the sliding intermediate block,J,and the foot-block B, of the pin P and the spring-hook Q,substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said blocks can be locked together automatically, as set forth.

4. In a grappling-bucket, the combination, with the foot-block B, sliding block J, having a pin, P, and the spring-hook Q, of the telescopic guides E F and the cross-head G, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said hook will be disengaged to open the bucket by the said cross-head coming in contact with the derrick-arm, as set forth.

5. In a grappling-bucket, the foot-block B, made substantially as herein shown and described, with an annular flange, S, around its top, whereby the material is prevented from getting upon the said top and obstructing the downward movement of the center block, as set forth.

IVILLIAM G. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

J AMES T. GRAHAM, EDGAR TATE. 

